Coventry City: Viktor Gyokeres situation can aid potential Ben Sheaf departure: View

After Gustavo Hamer and Viktor Gyokeres left Coventry City for big fees in the summer, 2023/24 provided an opportunity for other members of Mark Robins’ squad to fill their boots as the club’s star man, and Ben Sheaf has done just that.

Sheaf has been a consistent performer for the Sky Blues in recent seasons, and this season has been no exception, with the holding midfielder once again proving to be a vital cog.

However, in recent months, he has gone to another level and become one of Coventry’s outstanding players, alongside Callum O’Hare, but he does not receive the same recognition as his teammate, with much of his work both in and out of possession going unnoticed.

A groyne injury in training sidelined the 26-year-old for six games earlier this season, but he has been virtually ever-present since then and has regained his good form since returning to the side, transforming into the calming and controlling influence in the centre of the park.

He has been an important member of the team since joining from Arsenal, appearing more than 30 times in the league in each of the last three seasons. Sheaf scored two goals and assisted twice as Robins’ team finished fifth in the Championship in 2023, but he was not a key player when compared to Gyokeres or Hamer.

Sheaf’s 2023/24 season

The midfielder has matured into an impressive figure who has received numerous accolades from Coventry supporters over the years, but he is only now receiving much broader recognition than before. He has also grown into his role as a club leader, having captained the team on 19 occasions since December.

Following Hamer’s departure, he has been able to step up and become a valuable asset in the middle of the park for the Sky Blues, who would miss the former Arsenal academy graduate if he left.

He will screen the back four while also improving his passing ability and keeping the ball safe by recycling it as needed. Sheaf may lack mobility, but he is a composed player under pressure, and those press-resistant qualities were always going to attract attention from the top flight.

The 26-year-old recently played all 120 minutes as Coventry came close to winning one of the best FA Cup semi-finals in history. By the hour mark, Manchester United had a 3-0 lead and appeared to be on their way to a comfortable win.

However, goals from Ellis Simms, Callum O’Hare, and an injury-time penalty from Haji Wright helped Coventry come back from three goals down in the final 20 minutes, sending the Red Devils to extra time.

Victor Torp thought he had scored a 120th-minute winner before VAR ruled it out because Wright had strayed just offside in the build-up. Sheaf missed Coventry’s final penalty, causing heartbreak for both Cov fans and neutrals. They ultimately lost on penalties.

Despite the late penalty miss, Sheaf impressed greatly, and his stock appears to be higher than ever. However, a 3-2 loss to Hull City in midweek has effectively ended their play-off hopes this season, barring a minor miracle.

The next move for Ben Sheaf

Of course, without promotion, any Championship club risks losing key players, as Coventry discovered after missing out on the play-off final last season, and Sheaf could be playing his final few games for Coventry against Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich Town, and QPR. Transfer speculation is expected to continue into May and beyond.

Sporting CP won the battle for the Gyokeres’ services in the summer, but not without Cov raising a lot of money for him, demonstrating that they are a team capable of maximising transfer fees from Europe’s elite, even when their players are out of contract, as they may be with Sheaf. In November, official documents revealed that the Swedish forward was initially paid €20 million (£17.5 million) with potential add-ons of €4 million (£3.46 million).

Gyokeres has contributed 54 goals and 16 assists in 45 matches for Sporting since leaving CBS, making him a sought-after player across Europe. Coventry has a sell-on clause in Gyokeres’ contract, which could lead to another move this summer due to his impressive performance.

This would provide Coventry with additional funds for their summer rebuilding efforts. All of this means that Sheaf’s departure should be bearable for fans, given how much he and Gyokeres could get for their transfer kitty this summer.